The MARTINŮ STRINGS from Prague (Czech Republic) consists of twelve string players exemplifying the Czech historical string performance tradition. The ensemble has since its foundation, become known for its distinctive rhythmic vitality, pronounced melodic song like lyricism and musicality and expressive Slavonic sound. The musicians of the Martinů Strings comprise of some of the Czech Republic’s leading chamber musicians whose extensive performance experience has been gained over the years, through performing both as soloists, chamber musicians and also with the major leading Czech symphonic orchestras.

The Martinů Strings is led by the Czech-Swedish violinist and concert organiser Jaroslav Sonsky, who was performing as a soloist and chamber musician in 24 countries. As a violinist of the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra in Sweden under the orchestra’s principal conductors Franz Welser-Möst, Junichi Hirokami and Alan Buribayev, and who has arranged concerts throughout Europe for the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, and also performed extensively in concerts with his Berlin based ensemble the Epos Trio Berlin, with the cellist and chairman of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Jan Diesselhorst. Before moving to Sweden he performned as a violinist in Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with its principal conductor Václav Neumann.

The Martinů Strings recent touring activities has seen the ensemble tour Sweden’s major cities (Stockholm, Norrköping, and Linköping) with French pianist Sylvaine Wiart, performing a program of works by Franz Schubert (String Quartet No. 14 ‘’Death and the Maiden’’; Claude Debussy (‘’Danses sacrée et profane,’’ arranged for piano and string orchestra); and Dmitri Shostakovich (Chamber Symphony).

The Martinů Strings, honours the musical legacy of composer Bohuslav Martinů, who along with Leos Janacek, ‘’was one of the twin giants of Czech music in the twentieth century, a composer with a distinctly individual voice and a versatility that led him to excel in every medium from stage works to symphonies to string quartets. Martinů (who was among the most prolific composers of the twentieth century) managed to become not only the greatest Czech composer of his generation, but a major international figure, known especially for his concerti and chamber music, ‘’ All Music Guide (2013)

1st violin:

Martin Tupý, Radka Preislerová, Dagmar Virtová, Jaroslav Šonský,

2nd. violin:

Tomáš Prosek, Petra Böhm, Tatiana Imenová

Viola:

Martha Špelinová, Mikoláš Čech

Violoncello:

Štěpánka Kutmanová, Simona Hečová

Contrabass

Jan Smažík

In a recent critically acclaimed commemorative concert performance of the Martinů Strings at the Spanish Synagogue in Prague, the Czech press wrote:

'”Twelve string ensemble founded and directed by violinist Jaroslav Šonský, living in Sweden, among other things, winner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gratias Agit for spreading the good name of the Czech Republic and its culture abroad, and whom we had the opportunity to meet a couple of times, even here as an outstanding soloist and chamber musician. In Prague Martinů Strings gathered in the same vein tune great players who can take full advantage of such an eminently chamber cast together and perhaps even breathe. The orchestra also plays in a standing position, which allows him responsive interplay and almost solo performances. Not only that, but also the intensity of the picture and dive into the interpreted work is reminiscent of the famous Warchal Slovak Chamber Orchestra. Uniform perfect phrasing and intonation together with passion for the game and create compact and yet intimate crystal clear sound characterized the dramaturgical challenging evening. Within this sounded Allegro from Quintet Schubert Death and the Maiden in Mahler's arrangement for string orchestra, Barber's Adagio for Strings and finally op.110 Shostakovich Chamber Symphony, dedicated to the victims of Second World War, a work of remarkable depth and scope, which did not remain Martinů Strings owe nothing, belonged to the contrary, the culmination of the evening, after which the band immediately started touring the Swedish Norrköping, Linköping and Stockholm”.